‘Foxcatcher’ First Look: See Steve Carell’s Murderous and Unexpected Transformation

As suggested by the first-look photo from Bennett Miller's upcoming 'Foxcatcher,' funnyman Steve Carell is an unlikely choice to portray real-life murderer John DuPont, the heir to the DuPont Chemical fortune who killed Olympic wrestling champion David Schultz. However, it is this unexpected casting that melded with both Miller's vision for his lead and the film.

'Foxcatcher' stars Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Sienna Miller and Carell, and depicts the true story of how sibling Olympic wrestling champs Mark (Tatum) and David Schultz (Ruffalo) befriended DuPont before the millionaire committed the horrific act in 1996. Speaking with EW, Miller said:

If I say I’m going to make a movie about a guy who’s a schizophrenic murderer, there are probably a dozen actors who would immediately appear on anybody’s casting list. And Steve would not be on any of those lists. And that’s a good thing. Because it’s unexpected… John DuPont was a character who nobody thought was capable of doing something as horrible as he did. And I did not want to cast somebody who would feel dangerous in that way.

Miller, who directed 'Moneyball' and 'Capote,' might have another Oscar nomination on his hands as buzz surrounding 'Foxcatcher' continues to increase. Sony Pictures Classics will release the film on December 20. As for Carell, you can see him as nature intended in 'Anchorman: The Legend Continues,' out the same day.